The wreaths and funeral offerings stacked nearby caught at once—flames roared up around the coffin.
“Chloe, the dead deserve respect—aren’t you afraid of divine punishment?”
I barely touched her, yet Chloe threw herself to the floor and began to sob theatrically.
“Nora, did I give you too much face? How dare you hit Chloe in front of me?”
I met Ethan’s blazing stare and pointed at the casket, my voice hoarse.
“Are you blind? Can’t you see how they’re defiling your dad?”
Ethan turned by reflex—and froze when he saw the watch on Mr. Hayes’s wrist.
“Why is my dad’s watch here?”
He’d bought that watch with his summer job wages his freshman year. The hands had broken later, and though the family could afford a new one, Mr. Hayes had refused to replace it.
He’d said it was his son’s heart, a keepsake for life.
Panic flickered across Ethan’s face. He started forward to look closer, but Chloe yanked his arm.
“Ethan, she’s tricking you again.”
“Last time she Photoshopped ‘proof’ your uncle died; now she’s waving a busted old watch around. Her father died, so she can’t stand to see anyone else’s dad rest in peace.”
“How dark can someone’s heart be? Come here, let me hold you…”